Elisabeth Sanders-Park

In this session, attendees will be equipped and inspired to help young people build a career that works for them. Learn a proven system to evaluate a client's progress and respond with focused strategies that move them forward... even if they face major barriers. Gain practical strategies for discovering and mobilizing personal motivation, clarifying career direction and next steps, unearthing proof of qualifications (even when they have never done the job before), removing the reasons they get screened out, and preparing a modern job search strategy. Join us for this interactive and practical session to gain new insight and apply the lessons to the youth you serve.

Participants will learn and apply:
-- a proven 5-step system to assess and respond to an individual's need.
-- the 6 reasons people get the job or not (from the employer's perspective)
-- backward career pathing so a client’s next job is a career move

Curtis Campogni

Taking a Closer Look at Influencing Youth Engagement Through Motivational Interviewing, Empathy, and Action

As engagement and retention become more complex, strategies to positively influence change must be strength-based and adaptable to youth risks and barriers. This workshop will provide an overview of best practices around establishing rapport, building trust, and influencing action with a focus on the utilization of evidence-based programming such as Motivational Interviewing and the stages of change.
When utilizing the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing to assess a participant’s readiness to change case managers can individualize discussions, interventions, and activities to assist them in uncovering options and determining barriers that prevent their independence.
The pre-con will elicit group feedback and self-analysis of how personal values motivate behavior. The pre-con will include role play, group activities, and peer interviewing.

Walter Simmons

This training session is designed to guide attendees through the steps to Creating & Becoming 21^st Century Workforce Development Leaders. The session will identify the four types of leaders and the traits and characteristics of each which will lead to understanding what type of leader you are or want to be. Learn how to create a vision and how to translate that vision into specific goals with an implementation plan using the Workforce Development Business Model. Next, attendees will learn to convert that model into workforce development programming and communicate their vision and programs to staff and partners. Finally, learn about the mental strains and stress of being a leader, how to successfully manage the stresses of being a leader, and how to build a team to help a leader be successful.

Josh Davies

This Conference is a Waste of Your Time!*

*but it doesn't have to be

You have finally made it to an in-person conference – Congratulations! The NAWDP Youth Development Symposium promises to be a fantastic three days. You’ll have the opportunity to learn valuable information, network with peers from across the country, and get exposed to all sorts of new ideas. And it may be. A. Waste. Of. Your. Time. Why? Because unless you have a strategic plan for what you do with all of that information, networking, and ideas, you have squandered this opportunity. In the post-Pandemic world, it is going to be harder and harder to justify going to in-person conferences – so you have to maximize the value to you AND your organization. Find out the best ways to take everything you will learn over the next three days and turn them into action when you return. This entertaining and thought-provoking opening session will give you the tools to ensure that this conference was anything but a waste of your time and your organization’s resources!

Sophia Andrews

Motivating Youth From a Youth Perspective

Having started her change-making journey around fourteen, Sophia understands the challenges and opportunities young people face today. The world is changing, and young people are learning to adapt along with it. In this session, you will hear from a young person’s perspective on how young people can overcome challenges, find their passions, and make the most of them even in their Youth. Practical steps will be given to help support young people’s needs by empowering them to become change agents and thought leaders in their communities and beyond.

In this session, we will discuss:
- Sophia’s Changemaking Journey
- Helping young people use their passions to make a difference
- Important mindsets to keep when working with Youth
- Understanding Youth and harnessing their capabilities